Oxidation state
Oxidation State
The oxidation state (pronounced: /ɒksɪˈdeɪʃən steɪt/), also known as oxidation number, is a concept in chemistry that describes the degree of oxidation (loss of electrons) of an atom in a chemical compound. Conceptually, the oxidation state, which may be positive, negative or zero, is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic.
Etymology
The term "oxidation state" is derived from the process of oxidation, which refers to the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion, and the word "state" which refers to the condition or circumstances at a particular time. The term "oxidation" itself comes from the Latin word 'oxidare', meaning 'to combine with oxygen'.
Related Terms
- Redox: A type of chemical reaction that involves a transfer of electrons between two species.
- Oxidizing Agent: A substance that has the ability to oxidize other substances — in other words, it accepts their electrons.
- Reducing Agent: A substance that has the ability to reduce other substances — in other words, it donates electrons to them.
- Valence Electron: An electron that is associated with an atom, and that can participate in the formation of a chemical bond.
- Electronegativity: A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oxidation state
- Wikipedia's article - Oxidation state
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